Electric conductor.



No. 746,463. PATENTED-DEG. s, 1903. o. M. CLARK. ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, 1902 no MODEL. 2 sunn1 s-snsm- 1.

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0. M. CLARK. ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 10, 1902.

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. UNITED STATES iatented December 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC CON DU CTO R;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,463, dated December 8, 19'03.

Applicationfiled December 10,1902. Serial No.134,603. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South Orange, New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to main conductors for electric lines in which dead sections or sections having reduced currents are employed for stopping the motor at predetermined points.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents diagrammatically aform of insulating-block embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of said block. Fig. 3 is a view showing a block of different form. Fig. 4 is a section showing the shape of the swinging lever on the block.

Though my invention may be used in any system of electric propulsion, I will describe it as used with telpherage systems. In many of these sytems the motor stops at predetermined points, is automatically reversed, and at the same time the load is automatically discharged and the telpher returns automatically to the starting-place.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby I may use with such a system of telpherage a rotary switch which will be operated to reverse the motor by the breaking of the circuit through the same without causing such reversal when the trolley passes over the insulating-blocks forming the dead sections on the line.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated diagrammatically such a form of switch. A represents the switch, which is of a well-known type, on the spindle of which is a ratchet-Wheel B, having teeth C. Freely movable on the spindle is a ratchet-lever D, carrying a pawl E. It will he observed that when the ratchet-lever is raised the pawl will pass freely over the teeth, and when the ratchet-lever is depressed the switch will be moved a part of a revolution, thus reversing the motor. Ioperate this lever by means of a solenoid, the core F of which is attached to the ratchet-lever D. Between the core and the end of the solenoid is a spring G, normally tending to depress the core. The solenoid is energized through wires H I, passing from the trolley-pole. It

dotted lines.

When, however, the circuit is broken, the

solenoid becomes deuergized and the spring G forces the core F and the ratchet-lever D downward, turning the switch a portion of a revolution.

In order to make my invention more clear, I will describe briefly the operation of a motor traveling along the line.

Referring particularly to Fig. I, a represents themain conductor. In this main conductor is introduced an insulating-block 19, thus dividing the line into two sections, the second one, c,of which is supplied with current through a by-pass (1, provided with a resistance e, so regulated that a considerably-reduced current flows through the section 0. f represents thetelpher, and g the trolley therefor. Supposing the telpher to start from the left of theline looking at Fig. 1, it will travel along until the trolley strikes the insulatinghlock b, whereupon, as heretofore described, the circuit being broken through the motor, the switch will reverse; but the momentum of the motor will carry it past the block and on to the line 0, where it will stop, there being a. reduced current on said line, the current passing through the reversed motor causing it to act as a brake. Here the telpher automatically discharges its load and the motor immediately proceeds to move backward. When the trolley again strikes the insulating-block,-the motor will, unless means. be'provided to prevent it, again be reversed, for the current through. said motor -while on the section 0 has energized. the solenoid and lifted the ratchet-arm D. To prevent this reversing of the motor at this point is the object of my invention. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the block b has in the bottom thereof a groove h,'between the sides of which is freely pivoted a lever 1;, which normally hangs in a vertical position, as indicated in This lever is'provided with a projectionj, which when the lever is swung to the left will engage with a spring contactpiece 70, which is in electrical connection with the by-pass d. The under side of the block on each side of the groove is provided with metallic pieces Z, which are in electrical connection with the sections a and 0, respectively, but which run onlya part of the length of the block. The groove his of such a depth as to allow the lever to swing up so that the trolley can pass freely under it in either direction. When the trolley passes from left to right looking at Fig. 1, it passes on to the block b, and after it has left the metallic piece Z no current can pass through the m0- tor, and the switch will be reversed, as heretofore described. The trolley passing along by its own momentum will swing the lever i to the right and pass on to the section 0 of the line, where the motor will stop, as heretofore described. When the motor starts back afterits load is discharged, the trolleystrikes the lever 11 before it leaves the metallic piecel and moves said lever so that the projection j is in engagement with a contact 70, thus maintaining the circuit through the motor. As the telpher continues its travel it will move along under the lever 11 and on to the metallic piece Z and thence tothe main line a. Theleveriisofsuch a length that the trolley is in engagement with the section Z before its contactwith the leveri is broken. This, as will be readily seen, eflz'ectually prevents the reversal of the motor when passing the insulation-block on the return trip of the telpher. Instead of using the contactpiece it I may connect the lever directly to the by-pass.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown a different form of the invention. In this case the lever 'is freely pivoted, as in the first instance. It is connected directly to the section 0 of the line. The Wire of the section dot the line runs along underneath the block, as clearly shown. The lever t" is of such a length that when the trolley passes from right to left it bridges the space between the extensions of the lines 0 and a. The lever is grooved on its under side or its side next to section 0 in order that when the telpher travels toward the right it may move up in contact with the wire, so as to prevent any breaking of the circuit when the trolley is passing from 2" to c. The operation of the device is precisely the same as heretofore described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be observed that this invention may be used with the section 0 as a dead section and energized only when it is desired to start the telpher back, for in such case the motor would be automatically reversed when its trolley reached the dead section, and when said section was energized and the motor started back the current would be maintained until the trolley struck the main conductor, as heretofore described.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An insulating device for electric conductors having means for breaking the circuit through the motor when it passes in one direction and means for maintaining the circuit when passingin the other direction, substantially as described.

2. An insulating-block for conductors having a freely-pivoted lever attached thereto and electrical connections whereby movement of the lever in a given direction will maintain the circuit through the motor, substantially as described.

3. An insulating-block, a freely'pivoted lever attached thereto, a contact-point in electrical connection with the line, and a projection on the lever adapted to engage said contact-point when the lever is swung in a given direction, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the city, county, and State of New York, this 4th day of December, 1902.

CHARLES M. CLARK.

In presence of- E. M. HARRISON, JOHN J. RANAGAN. 

